A new wave of coronaviruses infections and hospitalisations sweeps across the country as the Trade Union Congress claims that nearly one in 10 workers with Covid symptoms are being pressured to come into work.
9% of employees with symptoms have been forced into the workplace, and 10% have been asked to work alongside colleagues who tested positive, according to a poll by the TUC.
Only 29% of workers and 14% of disabled workers feel safe at work, according to a survey carried out in May.
Even though she was positive, she was told to work at the deli counter. When she came back to work 10 days later, she was told she would be disciplined. On the third day, I was told to come in because they were short staff. The line was still strong despite my positive test. I wasn't feeling well. She said that she needed an asthma pump because she couldn't breathe. I said no to them because we work with older people.
Some of her colleagues came in after they fell ill with the virus. She said that a couple of people had been told to come in. The supermarket didn't care about our welfare.
Vaccines are saving lives, but Covid remains a real risk, according to the health and safety officer. Everyone should feel safe at work. She said that Conservative ministers had been too easy in removing requirements for risk assessments.
Infections are driven by Omicron variant surge. Positive tests are continuing to rise. More than 11,000 people were admitted to hospitals in England in the seven days that ended on 4 July, up from the previous seven days. 454 people died after testing positive for a drug up to July 1st. Dr Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, has warned that admissions are likely to exceed the April peak.
Many firms have failed to take even basic precautions, the TUC claimed, with workers reporting that about a quarter of workplace have not taken steps to improve ventilation and 18% haven't done a Covid risk assessment.
Government public guidance, which replaced legally binding regulations, asks employers to consider measures such as improving ventilation, supporting the vaccine programme and helping workers self-isolating.
30% of the workers surveyed said they weren't offered paid time off to get vaccine, which could be a problem. Some people were not allowed to work from home.
20% of workers can't afford to take time off due to the UK's low rates of sick pay. Workers have to wait for four days before they can claim statutory sick pay, which is one of the lowest rates in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
This is a class issue. More than a million people who don't earn enough are not likely to get decent sick pay because they are on low pay.
The director of the UKHSA said that workers with Covid should stay at home and avoid contact with other people because they are at higher risk of serious illness if they don't get vaccinations.
If employees have a respiratory illness such as Covid-19, they should stay at home and avoid contact with others. He said that they should only return to work when they don't have a high temperature.
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